Zoo Lake Photo by Walter Knirr

RELATED LINKS: Fun in the sun Communities are enthusiastically reclaiming public open spaces, affirming their attachment to the natural environment. On any given Sunday in the parks all over Gauteng, meat-scented smoke issues from newly built braai stands, with children running around parents and families, who themselves have brought all manner of refreshments in their bright cooler-bags. Read more The social uses of parks in the city Since it was upgraded and reopened to the public last year, Thokoza Park in Rockville, Soweto, has been bustling with activity, attracting hordes of revellers to its lush green grounds. Read more Johannesburg City Parks City Parks, a self-contained business owned by the City Council, is the agency responsible for the maintenance and development of Johannesburg's parks and cemeteries. Read more The people get behind Soweto dam project A showcase project to restore a Soweto dam and the adjacent park has rekindled community spirit among local residents. The upgrading of the neglected Moroka Dam and Thokoza Park, once prime attractions of Rockville, Soweto, is a R20-million mayoral showcase project. Read more

Thokoza Park in Soweto is one of the most popular parks in the city

Plan to make parks safer for holidays December 3, 2003 By Tshepiso Mogotsi SITTING in the sun, sharing a picnic with family and friends at the local park is very much part of the weekend and holiday mood for many South Africans. And to make sure that the peaceful atmosphere is not disturbed in anyway, Johannesburg City Parks has launched Operation Sisonke to educate visitors to use public spaces in a responsible way. Alongside the education campaign City Parks, in partnership with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, the South African Police Services and various ward committees and community policing forums, will have law enforcers patrolling the public spaces on weekend and public holidays. On Sunday 30 November some 150 law enforcers handed out 6 000 information pamphlets to visitors to Thokoza Park in Rockville, Soweto, explaining the parks' by-laws. Thokoza Park and Zoo Lake in Parkview are two parks targeted by Operation Sisonke as these parks can get crowds of up to 10 000 for various events or on public holidays. "Thokoza Park hosts over 10 000 people on weekends and we anticipate that these numbers will grow over the festive period," said City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley. Apart from ensuring safety in public areas, the campaign also aims to address concerns around alcohol consumption, littering, lighting fires in restricted areas and violence. City parks are generally closed from dusk to dawn, with Thokoza Park being closed, for example, at 6pm. "Exceptions will be considered on the basis of a formal request to City Parks and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department." Operation Sisonke will run until the New Year's Day. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za